Japh's Collection #1: Chinese Elm

[Japh]

So I've bitten the bullet and gotten the first bonsai for my collection. It's a Chinese Elm (Ulmus Parvifolia), it was planted in 1996, bought from Bonsai Radcliffe Nursery.

I'm hoping to re-plant it and thicken up the trunk next year in the appropriate season.

I have a few half-formed ideas for the direction I want to take it, but really need to see it fully leafed before my ideas take proper shape.

Would love any feedback you might have on my purchase (Apologies for the poor quality photos... I need to find a better stage for my bonsai photos in future...)

chinese_elm_front.jpg

chinese_elm_left.jpg

chinese_elm_back.jpg

chinese_elm_right.jpg

Note: In the immediate future, I'm planning on adding several more bonsai to my collection. Including a Tasmanian Native of some kind for a bonsai class with Will Fletcher, a couple of air-layered cuttings from a cherry plum, and possibly some young silver birches for experimentation.

[paddles]

throw it in the ground now if you want japh, as long as you don't disturb the roots, it'll do ok

same applys for a grow box, just don't tease out the roots. you will get a reasonable amount of growth out of the extra 2 seasons.

Some people say putting a chinese elm in the ground is not a good thing, because they can become a weed, but I have approx 100 in my backyard so far. more seed to be planted yet..LOL

[Japh]

Oh really? You reckon I could pop it into a grow box now quite happily? That'd be great... no offense to you, but I'll just wait and see if a couple of others agree, and if so, I'll get me a grow box setup this week!

[anttal63]

sorry japh but im more intrigued with that pot and where it came from. looks very similar to a couple ive got. they're 1960's pots.

[Japh]

sorry japh but im more intrigued with that pot and where it came from. looks very similar to a couple ive got. they're 1960's pots.

The pot just came with the tree, however, I will try and get some info on it if you give me some feedback on the tree hehe

[alpineart]

Oh really? You reckon I could pop it into a grow box now quite happily? That'd be great... no offense to you, but I'll just wait and see if a couple of others agree, and if so, I'll get me a grow box setup this week!

Hi Japh , nobody in their right mind will give you bad info on this sight .What paddles says is all good .Drop it in a box or the ground like the man said .Chears

[Jester]

Hi Japh, I agree with paddles, give it some space and allow it to thicken up or better yet wack it in the ground. In a pot like that I would say you are in for a long wait. Personally I would have chosen some much thicker stock but that's just me. I'm glad you bought yourself an elm though. This is an EXCELLENT species to start with.....hardy, forgiving, shapeable and you can repot just about anytime. Many people buy junipers or pines as their first tree. I think this is a big mistake. It's like saying I will learn to drive a Mack truck before I know how to drive a small car.

[Japh]

Sold. Tomorrow I'm going out looking for a grow box!

Not sure exactly what I need, but I'm sure I'll find that documented somewhere. I guess just an actual box, some good bonsai soil, and voila!

[Japh]

Hi Japh, I agree with paddles, give it some space and allow it to thicken up or better yet wack it in the ground. In a pot like that I would say you are in for a long wait. Personally I would have chosen some much thicker stock but that's just me. I'm glad you bought yourself an elm though. This is an EXCELLENT species to start with.....hardy, forgiving, shapeable and you can repot just about anytime. Many people buy junipers or pines as their first tree. I think this is a big mistake. It's like saying I will learn to drive a Mack truck before I know how to drive a small car.

I would love to whack it in the ground, but being in a rental I think the land lord would have words to say. Ideally thicker would've been better, but this was the best Chinese Elm I could find there. Besides, this way I get to see what happens with using a grow box on a 13 year old plant!

[anttal63]

sorry japh but im more intrigued with that pot and where it came from. looks very similar to a couple ive got. they're 1960's pots.

The pot just came with the tree, however, I will try and get some info on it if you give me some feedback on the tree hehe

like the guys have already said. theres not much more you can do for now unless you want style a twig in a pot. when it runs free for a year then we can have a look at where it needs to be chopped back to choose the next leader. then repotted and left to run again for the next year. do this for 3 yrs and you will have some nice shohin material to worn on if ya do it right.

[alpineart]

Sold. Tomorrow I'm going out looking for a grow box!

Not sure exactly what I need, but I'm sure I'll find that documented somewhere. I guess just an actual box, some good bonsai soil, and voila!

Hi Japh ,Go to a fruit and veg shop or the supermarket and ask for a Polystyrene box .Cut the height down to about 100mm and there you have a grow box. i make wooden ones that's the carpenter in me . Push a screw driver through the bottom to make 6 - 8 holes , place some matting eg,shade cloth or flywire over the holes and plant the tree .Use a good quality potting mix or better still commercial bonsai mix available at most garden center's .Cheers

[paddles]

Japh, I use those big plastic storage boxes (If you can find one that is not clear plastic, although I have used the clear ones) I find them hardier? than the polystyrine boxes, particularly if you end up having to move the box around a bit? they do however cost $20- plus

In the meantime, if you have joined a local bonsai club, you might manage to attend a dig, and dig up something a bit thicker...

the under bed ones work best in my opinion (Which is of course different from many others )

Oh, and I can advise that you do not get silver birch as learning trees, very finiky about being pruned (Killed a few before I learn't that)

you can buy chinese elm seed on ebay, or find a tree? and grow them quite easily. My seedlings are 18mths old and appear to be same size as the one you have just bought, but they have had 16mths in the ground

[daiviet_nguyen]

Hi,

Elm grows from cuttings also. Success rate is quite high.

Cheers.

[Jamie]

chinese elm grow so quick it wont take to long to thicken this puppy up!
you could try the 2 dollar shops for thos containers, i found a fair few for bugger all. but like someone else said the polystyrene one you should be able to get for free from the fruit and veg shops. or go to a recycle place and get some cheap timber slats and some board. goes together in no time. and with renting if you have garden beds you should be able to hide a few around the place and dig em back up when you need

what the owner dont know dont hurt him hey

Hi,

Elm grows from cuttings also. Success rate is quite high.

Cheers.

i have taken a few off mine up to half inch thick that have taken root real easy aswell. so you have plenty of options. whatever you cut off i would try and get to take root aswell, you will have more elms than you can work with !! enjoy

regards jamie

[bodhidharma]

hey japh try this ..... Put your soil in the box then put a dinner plate in upside down put . a little soil over it then plonk your tree on top of it. Gives you a great root spread and give you a great nebari